HOW  THEY  CAME  TO 
BETHLEHEM 


DAVID   DE   FOREST   BURRELL 


.USfl84 


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PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 


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PRESENTED  BY 

The  Estate  of 
Harold  McAfee  Robinson,  D.D, 


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HOW    THEY    CAME    TO 
BETHLEHEM 


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HOW  THEY 
TO 
BETHLEHEM 


DAVID  DE  FOREST  BURRELL 


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AMERICAN    TRACT    SOCIETY 

150   NASSAU   STREET.   NEW   YORK 


Copyright,  1911, 
Br  AMERICAN  TRACT  SOCIETY 


To 

a  certain  Elect  Lady, 

the  hindly  soul  of  the  Manse 

wherein  this  little  story  found  itself; 

and  to  all  who  are  not  afraid 

to  let  their  reverent  imaginings 

lend  color  to  their  thoughts  of  Jesus. 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arciiive 

in  2010  witii  funding  from 

Princeton  Tiieological  Seminary  Library 


littp://www.archive.org/details/liowtlieycametobetOOburr 


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3V 


i:i 


HOW    THEY    CAME    TO 
BETHLEHEM 

WESTWARD  across  the  highlands 
of  Persia  the  caravan  journeyed. 
Soft-footed,  with  long  stride,  the 
dromedaries  led  the  way  over  the  dry 
and  treeless  plain  toward  the  one  spot 
of  green  in  all  the  grayness.  The 
white-robed  Wise  Men  in  their  richly 
caparisoned     saddles    sat    silent.       The  ,  , 

servants    riding    after    with    the    pack  SB 

animals  talked  in  weary  tones  through 
parched  lips.  At  length  they  reached 
the  shade  of  the  oasis.  Through  the 
deep  green  of  oaks  and  mulberries 
gleamed  the  white  walls  of  a  town. 
Where  a  pool  lay,  dark  and  cool  beneath 
the  trees,  there  they  halted.  The  camels 
knelt.  The  Wise  Men  descended,  and 
drank  deep  draughts  of  the  cheering 
water. 

Through  the  thicket  came  a  woman 
from  the  town,  water-jar  swinging  in 
her  hand.      Silently,  as   if  she  saw  not      ivV/)jl 
the  strangers,  she  came  to  the  edge  of       ia\'  'n 
the  pool,  stooped,  and  filled  her  jar  with 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 

gurgling,  sparkling  water.  One  of  the 
Wise  Men  drew  near  as  she  rose  and 
lifted  the  jar  to  her  shoulder. 

"Peace  to  thee,  my  daughter!" 

"And  to  thee,  my  father,"  she  re- 
plied; but  her  voice  was  dull  as  lead, 
and  her  eyes  as  she  looked  at  him  were 
clouded  as  if  they  saw  not,  and  red  as  if 
they  were  ever  weeping. 

"Is  thy  heart  heavy  .f^" 

"My  heart  is  very  heavy,  O  Wise 
Man ;  and  the  light  of  mine  eyes  is  gone 
out.  My  husband  hath  died,  and  my 
little  one  hath  died,  and  the  home  is 
empty,  and  there  is  no  joy  in  life." 

Then  spoke  the  Wise  Man  cheerily: 
"We  go  to  find  the  King  who  giveth 
joy,  my  daughter.  We  have  seen  his 
star  at  its  rising.  He  shall  lighten  all 
hearts.  Come  thou  with  us  and  find 
him." 

A  spark  of  hope  gleamed  for  a  mo- 
ment in  the  woman's  eyes.  "Can  he 
give  me  back  mine  own.^^"  she  asked  with 
hungry  voice ;  and  the  Wise  Man  said, 
"It  may  well  be.  Thine  own  are  in  his 
hand.     Come  thou  and  discover." 

And  the  lonely  woman  laid  her  water- 
jar  down  at  the  root  of  a  tree  and  said, 
"I  will  go." 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 

Before  them  the  mountains  rose,  bare 
and  brown  and  bleak,  crowned  with  a 
white  crown  under  the  cloudless  sky. 
Through  the  foothills  they  passed,  and 
so  up,  ever  higher,  through  a  gloomy 
gorge,  until  at  length  the  gorge  opened 
out  before  them  and  they  saw,  far  be- 
low, the  green  plains  beribboned  with 
broad  silver  rivers,  and  far  beyond,  the 
dim  grayness  of  the  desert.  Slowly  the 
way  wound  down  into  the  valley.  Thus 
they  came  to  the  Great  River ;  and  on  a 
ferry  they  crossed,  and  journeyed  ever 
westward.  And  now  their  way  led  be- 
tween green  fields  of  waving  grain,  past 
many  a  town  and  village  by  the  river- 
side, past  the  hills  of  crumbling  brick 
that  once  had  been  great  Babylon,  and 
so  along  the  river-bank  for  many  a  day, 
until  the  walls  and  roofs  of  Carchemish 
shone  white  in  the  distance  under  the 
hot  sun. 

The}^  drew  near  and  entered  the  city. 
Through  markets  and  streets  the  drome- 
daries passed  with  stately  tread,  thread- 
ing their  way  through  a  riot  of  color 
and  noise,  while  all  around  drew  back 
and  wondered.  Suddenly  one  of  the 
Magi  halted  his  camel.  Within  the 
archway  before  which  they  stood  a  man 

9 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 

sat  cross-legged  on  the  floor,  chaffering 
with  the  owner  of  the  shop.  One  coin 
after  another  he  threw  upon  the  floor; 
but  ever  the  dealer  shook  his  head.  The 
Wise  Man  called, 

"Ho,  Ibrahim!" 

The  bargaining  ceased.  The  would- 
be  purchaser  turned  a  startled  face, 
swept  up  the  coins  from  the  ground, 
and  with  a  greeting  rose  and  came  out 
into  the  street. 

"Thou,  Wise  Friend  !  Whence.?  And 
whither.?"  he  cried. 

"We  go,"  said  the  Wise  Man,  "to  find 
the  new-born  King  of  the  Jews,  who 
shall  bring  peace  to  the  world.  Come 
thou  with  us !" 

"Nay,  nay !  Wait  ye  a  week  and  I 
will  go,  mayhap.  There  is  a  certain 
silken  robe  yonder  I  must  have,  and 
'twill  take  a  week  to  bring  down  the 
Jew's  price.  And  ye  seek  his  King.? 
There  is  no  hurry.  Wait  ye,  and  it  may 
be  I  will  go." 

"Thou  art  rich  beyond  dreams,"  said 
the  Wise  Man,  looking  down  at  his 
friend;  "and  thou  hast  many  a  silken 
robe.  Do  they  give  thee  happiness.? 
Hast  found  the  secret .?" 

Then  Ibrahim  laughed ;  but  there  was 

10 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 


no  joy  in  his  laughter.  "Happy?  Nay, 
not  I  r 

"Hast  peace  in  thy  heart?" 

"Nay,  not  I !" 

"Come  thou!  We  go  to  find  the 
King;  and  finding  the  King  thou  shalt 
find  peace  and  joy." 

"But— the  silken  robe " 

"Nay;  the  King  will  clothe  thy  soul 
for  thee !" 

And  the  man  Ibrahim  thrust  his  hand- 
ful of  coins  into  his  wallet  and,  turning 
to  the  Jewish  merchant  in  the  shadow 
of  the  archway,  "Keep  thy  silks, 
friend !"  he  cried ;  and  to  the  Wise  Man, 
"I  go !" 

And  so  he  joined  the  caravan. 


In  the  early  morning  they  set  out, 
still  following  the  tawny  river  up  its 
course.  At  length  they  left  the  green 
fields  by  the  river  and  followed  the  road 
where  it  stretched  across  a  gray  expanse 
of  wilderness.  The  dust  rose  in  clouds 
about  their  heads.  The  sun  beat  down 
upon  them.  So  they  journeyed.  One 
day  the}^  passed  a  poor  village  by  a 
stagnant  pool,  and  saw  before  them, 
plodding  along  alone,  a  little  lad.  Stead- 
fastly he  looked  ahead,  and  ever  walked 
11 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 


on  sturdily.     They  caught  up  with  him 
and  called,  and  halted  to  speak. 
"Peace  to  thee,  little  lad !" 
"And  to  ye  all,  O  my  fathers." 
"Whither  goest  thou,  little  lad.?"  said 
one. 

"To  find  a  friend,  O  my  father." 
"A  friend.?  Hast  thou  no  friend.?" 
"Nay,  none.  Outcast  am  I.  And  one 
in  the  market-place  back  yonder  told  me 
that  if  I  did  but  reach  the  end  of  the 
road  I  would  find  a  friend.  And  I  need 
a  friend,  O  my  father." 

"Yea,  and  thou  shalt  find  one.  At 
the  end  of  the  road  we  shall  find  One 
w^ho  is  Friend  to  all  the  world.  Come 
thou  with  us.  Thou  shalt  ride  with  me." 
And  the  little  lad  climbed  upon  the 
shoulder  of  the  kneeling  camel,  and  the 
camel  got  to  his  feet,  and  the  journey 
went  on. 

They  came  to  Palmyra,  set  like  a 
jewel  in  the  midst  of  the  desert. 
Through  its  crowded  streets  they  slowly 
moved,  past  the  mighty  colonnade  of  the 
Temple  of  Baal,  and  so  to  their  inn. 
The  early  morning  saw  them  on  their 
way  through  aisles  of  columns  and 
shrines  that  lined  the  streets  of  the  city, 

12 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 


gleaming  pale  in  the  faint  light  before 
the  dawn.  Before  them,  facing  the  east, 
now  loomed  the  great  bulk  of  the  Tem- 
ple of  the  Sun.  Even  as  they  drew  near, 
the  clear,  shrill  voice  of  a  priest  upon 
its  highest  tower  proclaimed  the  sunrise 
to  the  sleeping  city.  Then  silence 
again.  As  they  passed  the  temple  gates, 
the  priest  whose  voice  they  had  heard 
hailed  them  from  the  windows  within, 
A  moment  later  he  stood  beside  the 
dromedaries  of  the  Wise  Men. 

"Peace  to  you,  O  ye  blest  of  heaven 
with  wisdom!" 

"And  to  thee !"  spoke  the  eldest  of  the 
Wise  Men.  "And  thou — art  thou  not  of 
us.?" 

The  man  drew  himself  up,  then  smiled 
as  if  in  scorn  of  himself.  "My  name," 
he  said  simply,  "is  Chokmah — ^Wisdom. 
Men  call  me  the  Wisest  of  the  Wise 
Men.  Ye  have  heard  of  me.  I  know 
your  quest.  I  too  have  searched  the 
heavens.  I  too  have  read  the  prophecies 
of  the  Jews.  In  the  Midrashim  I  found 
it — 'A  star  shall  come  forth  out  of  Jacob. 
.  .  .  In  the  -fifth  year  .  .  .  it  shall 
shine  forth  from  the  east,  and  this  is 
the  star  of  the  Messiah.  .  ,  .  At  the 
close  of  the  seventh  year  the  Messiah  is 
13 


c 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 


to  be  expected.*     Runs  it  not  thus,  O 
friends?" 

The  three  upon  their  dromedaries 
nodded,  and  he  spoke  on:  "And  the 
seventh  year  is  well-nigh  gone.  .  .  . 
And  ye  journey  to  see  the  Messiah  .  .  . 
And  I  would  journey  with  you,  if  I  were 

k              sure.   ...  I  have  seen  many  years,  and 
I             I  know  much.   .   .   .   None  has  pierced  to 
the  heart  of  the  world  as  have  I.  ,  .  .  But 
how  can  it  be.^     The  world  hath  moved; 
but — a  Saviour?    I  know  not " 

C  So  he   mused.      The   Wise    Men   sat 

silent.     A  sudden  word  fell  upon  the  air 

ft.  in  the  clear  soft  voice  of  the  little  lad. 

V  "O  my  father,"  quoth  he  to  the  one  be- 

fore whom  he  rode,  "the  man  hath  too 
much  wisdom." 

The  Wise  Man  nodded  his  head 
gravely,  and  spoke  to  the  priest,  "The 
lad  hath  spoken.  O  son  of  the  stars, 
thou  hast  yet  one  thing  to  learn.  Come 
thou  and  see  the  King,  and  learn  thy 
littleness." 

And  the  priest,  the  Wisest  of  the  Wise 
Men,  answered,  looking  not  at  the 
speaker  but  at  the  little  lad  in  the  sad- 
dle before  him,  "I  come." 

"We  are  one  more,  my  father,"  said 
the  little  lad. 

14 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 


So  they  rode  until  at  length  they  en- 
tered the  dreary  bulwark  of  hills  that 
caught  and  held  back  from  beautiful 
Damascus  the  hungry  wind-blown  sands 
of  the  desert.  Here,  crouching  by  the 
wayside,  a  poor  creature  held  his  hand 
before  his  disfigured  face  and  wailed  a 
warning,  "Unclean  !     Unclean  1" 

The  Wise  Men  halted  their  camels, 
and  one  spoke.  "Peace  be  to  thee,  O  my 
brother!"  he  said. 

The  outcast,  startled  by  the  unaccus- 
tomed greeting,  mumbled  an  answer. 

"Wouldst  thou  be  clean,  O  my 
brother?" 

A  hoarse  cry  broke  from  the  lipless 
mouth,  and  the  trembling  wretch  drew 
nearer. 

"Come  no  nearer!"  commanded  the 
Wise  Man.  "Thou  art  still  unclean. 
But  we  go,  O  my  brother,  to  see  One 
whose  touch  is  health  to  body  and  soul. 
Follow  thou  behind  us,  at  a  distance.  A 
horse  shall  be  left  for  thee." 

The  caravan  went  on  its  way  through 
the  brown  hills.  The  little  lad  twisted 
himself  in  the  saddle  and  peered  back 
over  the  Wise  Man's  shoulder  and 
laughed  for  joy.  "He  follows  I  He 
follows!"  and  he  settled  himself  again, 
15 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 


his  head  against  the  Wise  Man's  breast. 
"We  are  one  more,  O  my  father,"  said 
the  httle  lad. 

Now  the  hills  to  the  west  parted  be- 
fore them,  and  they  entered  the  emerald 
paradise  in  whose  heart  shone  white  the 
walls  and  temples  and  palaces  of  Da- 
mascus. Beyond,  again,  the  mountains 
rose,  a  snowy  bank  that  filled  the  western 
horizon.  Betwixt  green  fields  and 
groves  of  delicious  shade  their  road 
wound  across  the  plain  and  brought 
them  along  the  bank  of  a  foaming  river 
through  cool  orchards  to  the  city  gate. 
As  the  caravan  entered,  the  little  lad 
craned  his  neck  and  looked  back. 

"The  leper  hath  halted  his  horse,"  he 
said. 

"He  is  unclean.  He  cannot  come 
among  men." 

And  so  they  entered  the  city.  Every 
city  was  a  wonderful  place  to  the  little 
lad,  a  maze  of  streets,  a  blaze  of  colors, 
a  babel  of  sounds.  He  saw  a  water- 
carrier  with  blackened,  swollen  water- 
skin  upon  his  back.  He  saw  a  company 
of  glittering  soldiers  whose  armor 
clashed  and  clinked  as  they  strode 
through   the   opening   crowd.      He   saw 

16 


x 

How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 


merchants  in  gorgeous  robes  sitting  im- 
passive in  the  bazaars.  He  saw  the  sun- 
blacked  Bedouin  from  the  desert,  with 
flowing  headdress  and  flowing  robe.  He 
saw  a  slave,  black,  naked,  gHstening 
with  sweat,  tottering  under  the  burden 
with  which  he  followed  his  master.  He 
saw  the  slave  stumble  and  fall,  and  the 
burden  crash  to  the  pavement,  and  the 
man  lie  there  exhausted,  deaf  to  the 
curses  of  his  furious  master.  He  saw 
the  master's  foot  go  back  to  kick.  And 
the  little  lad  cried  aloud  and  pointed. 
Then  the  dromedary  stopped,  and  the 
Wise  Man  spoke,  while  the  master  stayed 
his  foot. 

"Is  he  thy  slave.?" 

"Ay,  lord,  and  worthless." 

"Thou  hast  made  him  so.  Here  be 
one  hundred  drachmae.  The  man  is 
mine." 

"Two  hundred,  lord." 

"One  hundred  is  too  much.  I  have 
spoken.  Is  it  a  bargain  .^^  Lift  him  to 
his  feet." 

Trembling,  the  poor  black  stood  be- 
fore his  new  master.  The  little  lad 
looked,  and  wept  for  pity  and  joy.  The 
Wise  Man  spoke : 

"O  my  brother,  we  go  to  see  a  King 

17 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 

in  whose  realm  all  souls  are  free.  Thou 
art  free.  If  thou  wilt  come  with  us, 
come !" 

Then  the  man  caught  the  Wise  Man's 
foot  in  his  scarred  hands  and  kissed  it. 

"O  my  master,  I  come,"  was  the 
broken  reply. 

"We  are  one  more,  O  my  father,"  said 
the  little  lad  as  the  caravan  went  again 
on  its  way  through  the  city  to  the  inn. 

Southward  now,  with  the  sun  in  their 
faces,  they  journeyed  along  the  great 
paved  highway.  Behind  them,  alone, 
came  the  leper  on  his  horse.  At  every 
halting-place,  when  they  left,  the  little 
lad  made  sure  that  food  was  left  be- 
hind for  him.  The  road  led  now  by  the 
tumbling,  foaming  river,  where  rows  of 
poplars  stood  tall  and  straight ;  now  by 
thickets  of  oleander  and  willow  that  hid 
the  river  from  view;  now  through  mea- 
dows strewn  with  many-colored  flowers ; 
through  many  a  village  and  town,  fiat- 
roofed  and  dirty ;  past  many  a  hillside 
robed  in  the  deep  purple  of  iris ;  by  the 
black  tents  of  Arabs  encamped  about  the 
springs  by  the  road;  along  the  shore 
lapped  by  the  blue  waters  of  the  Lake 
of  Galilee;  through  orchards  where  the 
__  18 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 

hardy  farmer-folk,  gathering  their  olives 
from  the  silver-wreathed  trees,  stopped 
to  gaze  in  open-mouthed  wonder  at  the 
strange  company,  and  fled  with  curses 
from  the  leper  who  came  last,  alone. 

So  the  days  passed ;  and  so  they  came, 
one  day,  to  a  village  by  Jordan,  and  in 
the  heat  of  noon  they  rested  in  their 
tents.  It  was  here,  in  the  doorway  of  a 
house  at  the  end  of  the  village  street, 
that  the  little  lad,  wandering  about, 
curious,  found  a  woman  standing.  She 
wore  no  veil,  this  woman,  and  she 
laughed  at  him  boldly,  and  spoke  in  a 
tongue  he  knew  not.  So  he  brought  his 
friend  the  Wise  Man  and  entreated  him 
to  speak  with  her.  And  when  she  saw 
the  Wise  Man's  kindly  eyes  searching 
her  face  she  grew  silent,  and  smiled  no 
more,  and  a  troubled  look  came  into  her 
eyes. 

Then  spake  the  Wise  Man:  "Peace 
to  thee,  my  daughter.  Hast  thou  a  de- 
sire in  thy  heart?" 

"None,  lord." 

"Nay;  answer  truly!  Hast  thou  a 
desire  in  thy  heart?" 

Then  she  cast  down  her  e^^es,  and  the 
tears  came,  and  she  wrung  her  hands 
and  pressed  them  to  her  heart ;  and  she 

19 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 

said,  "O  m}^  father,  a  clean  heart — a 
clean  heart  would  I  have !" 

And  the  Wise  Man  would  have 
spoken ;  but  the  lad  ran  to  the  woman 
and  took  her  by  her  clasped  hands  and 
would  have  dragged  her  toward  the 
tents.     "Come  with  us !"  he  cried. 

And  she  looked  at  the  Wise  Man,  who 
smiled  at  her  and  said,  "We  go  to  find 
the  One  whose  word  shall  cleanse  thy 
heart.     Come !" 

"We  are  one  more,  O  my  father,"  said 
the  little  lad  as  the  caravan  went  on  its 
way  in  the  cool  of  the  evening. 

Thus  they  followed  swift-flowing 
Jordan  between  the  purple  mountains 
until  they  came  to  the  ford  opposite 
Jericho  and  passed  through  tall  grasses 
and  rushes  and  oleanders,  and  forded  the 
stream,  and  so  came  out  on  the  plain 
of  Jericho.  In  a  grove  of  palms  out- 
side the  city  w^all  they  spread  their 
tents.  The  next  morning  a  gentle  win- 
ter rain  veiled  the  mountains  in  mist. 
The  caravan  climbed  slowly  up  the 
gorge  on  the  w^ay  to  the  Holy  City  on 
the  hills.  The  leper  followed  afar. 
Brown  rocks,  pitted  with  sinister  caverns 
and    shadowed    mysteriously,    rose    on 

20 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 

either  hand.  There  were  few  travelers. 
One,  a  priest  whom  they  overtook  at 
the  entrance  to  the  gorge,  joined  him- 
self to  them  for  safety's  sake,  though 
he  looked  askance  at  some  of  the  com- 
pany. He  walked  beside  the  dromedary 
on  whose  back  perched  the  little  lad  and 
his  wise  friend.  As  he  walked  he  seemed 
to  commune  with  himself  In  sadness.  At 
length  the  Wise  Man  spoke. 

"Heavy  thoughts,  O  my  brother,  are 
a  w^eary  load  for  one  who  climbs  the 
heights." 

"Verily,"  said  the  other,  and  was 
silent  for  a  time.  Then  he  spoke,  slowly, 
choosing  his  words.  "A  heavy  heart 
maketh  heavy  thoughts.  Year  after 
year  have  I  climbed  this  rocky  road 
from  my  home  in  Jericho  to  my  duties 
in  the  Temple  on  the  ]\Iount.  All  my 
days  have  I  been  faithful.  I  have  kept 
the  law,  yea,  the  least  jot  and  tittle  of 
the  law.  I  have  fasted  oft,  and  prayed 
ever,  and  tithed  the  very  herbs  of  my 
garden;  and  I  have  searched  the  scrolls 
of  the  wisest  of  our  teachers,  and  have 
been  mindful  of  their  injunctions;  and 
it  is  all  a  weariness  to  my  soul !  A  bur- 
den lieth  here,  and  I  know  not  how  to 
lift  it." 

21 


rim 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 


"Come  thou  with  us,"  said  the  Wise 
Man.  "We  be  all  seekers  for  the  One 
who  lifteth  burdens  from  all  heavy 
hearts.  We  have  seen  at  its  rising  the 
star  of  thine  own  new-born  King  and 
Saviour,  and  we  go  to  him.     Come !" 

"Ay,  come!"  cried  the  little  lad; 
"soon  we  shall  find  him,  and  thou  wilt 
be  happy  with  us !" 

"Mine  own  King.?  My  Saviour .?"  re- 
peated the  priest,  pondering.  "Truly 
I  know  Messiah  cometh — ^but  when?  If 
it  were  true!  If  this  load  within  my 
breast  were  but  gone  .  .  ." 

"Come,"  said  the  little  lad,  bending 
toward  him  from  the  saddle;  and  as  the 
priest  slowly  nodded  assent,  "We  are 
one  more,  O  my  father,"  he  said,  and 
the  Wise  Man  smiled  above  the  lad's 
head. 

The  travelers  came  out  from  the  head 
of  the  gorge,  rounded  the  shoulder  of 
the  hill,  and  saw  Jerusalem.  They 
crossed  the  brook  and  climbed  the  slope 
and  entered  the  great  gate.  Outside,  by 
the  deserted  tombs  on  the  hillside,  the 
leper  stayed. 

And  now  of  every  man  in  inn  and 
bazaar  and  market-place  the  Magi  asked 

22 


^^K^^^-^Wf^?^ 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem    ' 


one  question :  "Where  is  he  that  is  born 
King  of  the  Jews?  for  we  saw  his  star 
at  its  rising,  and  we  are  come  to  wor- 
ship him."  To  the  Court  of  the  Gen- 
tiles in  the  Temple  towering  above  the 
city  they  climbed,  and  asked  of  the 
rabbis  the  same  question.  And  none 
could  answer  it ;  but  many  laughed,  and 
some  wondered,  and  the  city  was  filled 
with  talk  of  the  strangers.  Thus  it 
came  to  pass  that  a  messenger  from 
Herod  stood  at  their  door  in  the  inn  one 
day  and  bade  them  come  before  the 
King.  To  the  palace  they  went,  while 
the  city  gossiped  and  the  little  lad  and 
the  others  of  their  motley  train  waited 
impatiently.     At  length  they  came. 

"Where.?"  cried  the  little  lad,  "where 
is  the  King.?" 

And  one  of  the  Wise  Men  laid  his 
hand  on  the  lad's  shoulder  and  answered : 
"In  Bethlehem  of  Judaea,  a  short  ride 
over  the  hills.  Get  word  to  thy  leper 
friend  without  the  gate  to  ride  to  the 
south.     We  ride  at  once." 

Across  the  plain  of  Rephaim  they 
went.  It  drew  toward  evening.  The 
sky  was  clear  that  day,  and  the  low  sun 
flung  the  long  shadows  of  wayside  trees 

23 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 

across  the  road.  Slowly  the  travelers 
climbed  the  long,  easy  slope  until  at  last 
they  reached  the  top.  The  sun  sank  be- 
hind the  billowing  hills  to  the  w^est. 
Stars  began  to  show  in  the  pale  blue 
above.  Before  them,  in  the  distance, 
lights  began  to  glimmer  faintly.  The 
Wise  Man  waked  the  little  lad  and 
pointed.     That  was  Bethlehem. 

Suddenly  a  shout  of  joy  went  up. 
Over  the  lights  of  the  town,  and  out- 
blazing  the  brightest  of  the  stars,  shone 
one  great  star.  The  Wise  Men  urged 
their  dromedaries  on.  The  darkness 
deepened,  and  the  star  glowed  the 
brighter.  A  shepherd's  hut  stood  in 
vague  bulk  beside  the  road.  The  sound 
of  the  shepherd's  pipe,  shrill,  clear, 
melancholy,  fell  upon  their  ears.  As 
they  came  abreast  of  the  hut  the  piping 
ceased.  The  shepherd  stood  by  the 
roadside. 

"Peace  to  you,  O  my  brothers !"  he 
called  cheerily  through  the  dusk. 

The  dromedaries  stopped  at  a  word. 

"And  to  thee  also,  friend!"  answered 
the  foremost  of  the  Wise  Men.  "Doth 
Bethlehem  lie  yonder.?" 

"Where  the  lights  are,"  said  the  shep- 
herd;  then,  with  a  new  ring  in  his  voice, 

24 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 

"It    may    be — perchance    ye    seek    the 
Babe?" 

"Verily,  we  do,"  came  the  eager  re- 
sponse: "the  new-born  Kmg.  How 
knowest  thou?" 

"How  know  I?"  The  shepherd,  as  he 
stood  in  the  darkness,  seemed  to  smile. 
"How  know  I?  I  know  by  the  word  of 
the  angel  of  God  and  by  mine  eyes. 
Thus :  Here  with  my  fellows  I  watched 
my  sheep  on  the  night  when  he  was 
bom ;  and  suddenly  an  angel  of  the 
Lord  stood  by  us,  and  the  glory  of  the 
Lord  shone  round  about  us,  and  we  were 
sore  afraid.  And  the  angel  said  unto  us, 
'Be  not  afraid ;  for  behold,  I  bring  you 
good  tidings  of  great  joy  which  shall 
be  to  all  the  people :  for  there  is  born  to 
you  this  day  in  the  city  of  David  a 
Saviour,  who  is  Christ  the  Lord.  And 
this  is  the  sign  unto  you:  Ye  shall  find 
a  babe  wrapped  in  swaddling  clothes,  and 
lying  in  a  manger.'  And  suddenly  there 
was  with  the  angel  a  multitude  of  the 
heavenly  host  praising  God,  and  saying, 
'Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on 
earth  peace,  good  pleasure  among  men.' 
And  then  it  was  dark  again,  and  we 
looked  with  dazed  eyes  at  one  another, 
and  we  went  to  the  town — we  found  the 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 

Babe  —  and  worshipped  —  and  came 
hither." 

"Is  the  Babe  yonder?" 

"Ay.  In  his  mother's  arms  he  sleeps 
by  now,  in  the  inn  by  the  market-place." 

They  waited  to  hear  no  more.  In  the 
starlight  they  drew  near  to  the  town, 
hurrying-  between  sweet-smelling  fields 
and  orchards  toward  their  hearts'  desire. 
And  in  the  inn,  in  his  mother's  arms, 
they  found  the  Babe.  Then  the  servants 
of  the  Wise  Men  made  the  pack-camels 
kneel  in  the  inn-yard,  and  took  from 
their  backs  their  lading  of  wondrous 
gifts,  and  brought  them  to  the  Wise 
Men;  and  they  'laid  them  before  the 
Babe,  and  knelt  and  bowed  to  the 
ground  before  him. 

Then  from  the  doorway  the  bereaved 
mother  stepped  forward,  and  she  spoke 
to  Mary,  who  understood  not  her  words, 
but  her  heart,  and  forthwith  lifted  the 
little  one's  chubby  hand  and  held  it 
forth ;  and  the  woman  sobbed  and  kissed 
the  little  hand  and  bathed  it  with  her 
tears.     Then  she  was  comforted. 

And  the  slave  in  his  turn  came  and 
knelt;  but  he  took  the  Babe's  dimpled 
foot  in  his  brawny  hand,  and  bowed  his 

26 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 

head,  and  put  the  little  foot  upon  it,  in 
token  of  a  new-found  slavery.  And  then 
knelt  before  the  Babe  the  rich  man  with 
the  unhappy  soul ;  and  in  his  eyes  was  a 
new  light,  and  from  his  face  a  gray 
shadow  had  lifted. 

There  was  a  stir  at  the  door,  an  out- 
cry, and  the  ragged,  wretched  form  of 
the  leper  fell  at  Marj^'s  feet.  With  sud- 
den timidity  the  man  crouched  there  for 
a  moment ;  then,  with  an  access  of  cour- 
age— seeing  that  Mary  did  not  snatch 
the  child  away — he  stretched  forth  his 
hand  and  touched  the  white  skirt  of  the 
Babe's  robe.  And  suddenly  he  straight- 
ened himself  and  put  back  his  head,  and 
for  sheer  joy  of  heart  he  laughed  aloud. 
And  he  cried  in  his  Syriac  tongue, 
"Clean!  Clean!"  One  would  have 
caught  him  by  the  shoulder  and  put  him 
forth;  but  the  little  lad's  wise  friend 
spoke  quickly,  "Leave  him  alone.  He  is 
clean !" 

Then,  as  if  the  leper  had  given  her 
hope,  the  woman  who  had  worn  no  veil 
crept  forward  and  bowed  to  the  earth 
before  the  Babe ;  but  she  said  never  a 
word ;  nor  did  any  in  the  room  open  his 
lips.  At  last  she  lifted  her  head,  and 
with  furtive  boldness  put  forth  a  hand 

27 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 

and  patted  the  Babe's  knee,  not  knowing 
how  else  to  show  her  love.  And  the 
Babe's  fingers  closed  around  one  of  her 
fingers,  and  he  smiled  into  her  face.  She 
wept  then;  but  she  wept  for  joy  of  the 
peace  in  her  heart. 

Then  knelt  the  Jewish  priest,  and  cried 
aloud  for  that  same  joy,  "Now  serve  I 
no  longer  the  Temple  alone,  but  the 
Temple's  Lord  !"  For  the  load  was  hfted 
from  his  heart  also. 

And  last,  the  little  lad,  who  had  been 
kneeling  by  the  Wise  Men,  rose  and 
stepped  forth  and  put  his  arms  about  the 
Babe,  and  kissed  him.  "For,"  he  said, 
"I  have  found  my  Friend  at  the  end  of 
the  road." 

Thus  the  motley  company  came  to 
Bethlehem. 

But  the  Wisest  of  Wise  Men  had 
said  never  a  word.  A  hint  of  what 
seemed  now  ridicule,  now  weariness,  hung 
about  his  lips.  As  they  rode  southward 
over  the  hills  before  the  dawn,  he  was 
still  silent,  until  the  little  lad,  from  his 
perch,  looked  across  at  him  and  said  re- 
proachfully, "O  Chokmah,  thou  didst 
not  worship !" 

"I  could  not,"  said  the  Wisest  One. 

28 


How  They  Came  to  Bethlehem 

The  lad  looked  up  Into  the  kindly  face 
above  his  shoulder.  "Why  could  he  not, 
O  my  father?"  he  whispered. 

The  Wise  Man  shook  his  head  sadly. 
"Thou  wast  right,  my  son.  He  is  too 
wise.  He  came  but  to  solve  a  riddle,  not 
to  loose  a  burden." 

"Yea,"  said  the  lad ;  "I  know." 

"And  how.?" 

"It  is  this  way,"  said  the  lad.  "He  had 
no  longing  in  his  heart,  but  we — all  the 
rest  of  us — we  had  a  want  in  our  hearts." 

"Verily,  thou  hast  said,"  returned  the 
Wise  Man.  "He  who  seeks  but  to  an- 
swer the  world's  riddles  finds  no  answer, 
no,  not  even  in  the  Babe.  He  who  seeks 
a  Saviour  seeks  never  in  vain." 

And  thus  they  rode  away. 


29 


PS3503 .U8H84 

How  they  came  to  Bethlehem. 

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